Since their breakup in 2011, R.E.M. have been clear that they’ll almost certainly never go back on tour. But in February 2024, fans might be able to see the next best thing — two famous dudes playing the hell out of R.E.M. songs.
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Actor Michael Shannon, who is a great singer and performer too, and Superchunk’s Jason Narducy are taking their R.E.M. covers show on the road, hitting seven cities in February 2024.
See here if they are coming to a stage near you.
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The gigs are being billed “Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy and Friends,” so there are bound to be plenty of surprises when they venture out. The rest of the band includes Mountain Goats drummer Jon Wurster (formerly of Superchunk), Dag Juhlin, Nick Macri, and Vijay Tellis-Nayak.
The shows will hit venues in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Athens, Georgia (R.E.M.’s hometown); Carrboro, North Carolina (just miles from Superchunk HQ in Chapel Hill); Washington, D.C.; Admore, Pennsylvania; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Brooklyn, N.Y.
These gigs stem from a one-off Shannon — a huge R.E.M. fan in addition to being a DC Extended Universe villain — and Narducy held back in July in Chicago. That show covered the band’s landmark 1983 debut album Murmur in its entirety as well as 1982’s Chronic Town, plus deep cuts like “These Days” and “Oddfellows Local 151” and even featured a surprise appearance from R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills himself.
Shannon and Narducy — who has also played in the bands Verboten and Split Single — have collaborated musically for years, often covering albums by artists like Neil Young and The Modern Lovers at special shows. Shannon, it must not be forgotten, is also a huge Pixies fan.
“I have been a fan of R.E.M. since my cousin played me the Document cassette out at my Aunt Norma’s trailer,” Shannon said in a press release. “I spent days and hours stumbling around my hometown of Lexington, KY listening to Murmur on my Walkman, long before the notion of being anything other than completely anonymous was a viable option. Jason and I have done several other albums and shows together but this one means the most to me.”
Narducy echoed this deep love for Athens’ favorite sons: “I’m looking forward to going on the road with Michael and the band. Michael and I have been doing shows for a long time but this is our first proper tour. The energy in the room at our Murmur show at Metro last July was really special. It’s fun celebrating a record that is so beloved.”
Get your tickets here.
Photo by Cameron Flaisch
